Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

jackieglasgow

Many Happy Returns of the day to Parsonswife, I bet your cake will be scrummy because it was baked with love. You are sharing your happy day with Zippychick, and I hope you both have a lovely time. XXX

greent

(pitlanepiglet) - sometimes these things have to be done for sanity and health

annie56 - wow!! Go you!!

Parsonswife - have a lovely birthday xx

maryb

Annie

Comes as no surprise but so heartwarming to see it confirmed. Bless you both

maryb

Parsonswife

Happy birthday!! I'm about the same age as you but my DD2 is younger and DD1 is away at uni on my birthday so I'm still baking my own birthday cakes - DD2 would be outraged if she couldn't help me blow out the candles - and make a rude remark about the number!!

the_cat

I agree with the comments from yesterday..... I feel much more skint now than I ever have done. Weird really, because due to silly low mortgage rate, we still have about the same amount of spare money per month as in our flushest times. (Not more because everything else has gone up!)I think that as more and more info comes out about the future, I have realised that I am going to have to pay out for much more than I would have believed possible a few years ago.
Pension..... good final salary scheme shut. So huge spends there
University............. DS2 wants to go and we would want to help him as much as possible. News today says up to £9000 A YEAR!
:eek::eek::eek:And that's before digs/food/living
Housing for DS1 and DS2............ The way things are, they will be living here for ever! Don't get me wrong, I love having them around but it's not what I want for them as adults. They will pay rent once they are employed but we will be helping support them until way after the age our parents supported my generation. Plus if at all possible, we had always planned to give them a lump sum to help out when they left home
AND BREATHE! Sorry rant over, it's safe to look back now:D

On a money saving note, Big Brand Foods have a special 100% extra on ALL food items from today till Friday. Seems to be you order 1 of anything, they will auto send you 2. You have to use the special code though. Linky below.... HTH

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...2782320&page=5

skyelark

Annie56 wrote: »

helloo again

further on the subject of folk are coping, at the garage where I work folk are still coming in and filling up there cars to the brim with petrol/diesel, swearing at me at the price and yes I do mean swearing and paying for it all withthere credit cards, twice weve had some well heeled types cards declined and they suddenly find the cash to pay in there purse. Then you have the other extreme, the person that needs the petrol to get the kids to school or for them to go to there part time work and they hand over there £5 for there petrol/diesel and they have to eek out every mile.
Ive got a wee box of lollies and sweeties under the counter for the kids that come in for there mum and dad and they have a freebie couple on me.

My dad has let a few well trusted folk he knows and trusts have there petrol on tick till they get paid at the end of the month,and they have never failed to pay him each time, same when they have an emergency repair we have let them pay a bit each week till its cleared, the mechanics have done work and overtime on there own time for a couple of single parents and not charged for labour, in the belief that there but for the grace of god go I.
I know these folk pass the favour on in some small way and as long as society helps one another its not a lost cause..

If nothing else comes out of this credit crunch/scared for my job/watching the pennies time I hope its the rediscovery of friendliness based on the ethic were all in this together type attitude,whilst its not a very secure time for most folks i have high hopes that the goodness and humanity that is still in us will persevere for the better of all.....

Maybe Im living in cloud cuckoo land as my friend often says, but whats that old song say oh yes "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" and boy has this forum in particular made me toughen up my finances and attitude to money and waste and recycling and mostimportantley of all keeping a watchful eye over my friends family and neighbours, Im no angel just someone that had it all once, lost it through lifes circumstances and realised that it wasnt the end of the world but the beginng of a phase in my life that is ful of warmth and kindness and love ad that didnt cost me a penny, its freely given and boy thats one bargain I wont be turning down.

scuse my soppy ramblings this evening...

Annie56

I am so pleased for you Annie. After reading your posts for the last wee while, I won't lie, my eyes filled for you! Lovely news!:T:T:T

Primrose

starsandmoon - I think you're right that a lot of people are suffering their financial hardship in silence because they're worried about loss of face amongst friends, family or work colleagues. I've always taken the view that it's better to be honest about your financial situation. We've experienced redundancies several times in our household and I've learned that by not being open about your need to economise, you can end up trapping yourself into difficult situations, especially in a work environment, when you're continually being asked to put your hand in your pocket for extraneous things such a birthday & leaving presents, office social occasions, etc. I learned that false pride doesn't pay the gas bill if you've spent £50 you can't afford attending a colleague's leaving night party! And I often found that once I was prepared to be honest about it, other people come creeping out of the woodwork and admit to the same difficulties but they suffer doubly for it because they end up conforming to social pressures, having a miserable emotionally time in the process and then paying for it with credit card debt. This time around I'm sure more people will be affected than previous recessions and cut-backs, so I can only plead with people to be honest and not get pulled into these emotional spending blackmail pressures if they find themselves in them. Not only will they take pressure off themselves; they will help other people in a similar situation. I find the best way of dealing with these situations is using humour - "No, I'm terribly sorry. I just can't afford that but I'm happy to share my next tea bag with you or you can have half my apple core:rotfl:

Fruball

Happy Birthday parsonswife Have a great day x

Anni56 You must be on cloud nine! Who'd a thought it eh?!!!

I am struggling with womanly things today In a fair amount of pain but have to take a friend out a little bit later - also had no sleep due to nightsweats. Just awful.

Could really do with going back to bed but have to type a couple of invoices and do a bit of paperwork later.

My HM crabapple jelly is going down a treat with the DDs so I am proud of myself for making it myself out of my own crabapples

Having lots of NSDs here which is good - especially after having to buy us all boots at the weekend :eek:

Really need to lose some weight (gained nearly a stone in a month :eek:) so will make a big batch of veg soup and live off that I think and try to get out for a 20 min walk every day. Already walk DDs to school, but need to do more. Am fed up with forcing myself into my jeans and having HUGE muffin top

Sun is shining here :j

Hope everyone has a good OS day

starsandmoon

v8monkeyboy wrote: »

StarsandMoon,

I know exactly how you feel. I'm constantly astonished as how much money people waste, and how, in these times they are still using all their money, right up to the overdraft, then fretting until they get paid!

I know some people have no choice, but when you see them sit down to eat a ready meal, and they're talking about the 3 week holiday they're going to have, you do wonder which world they're living in. Because we scrimp and save, watch the pennies and fret over what goes in (v little) to what goes out, we still have some savings left over for when we will have a lean month. Everyone at work always asks what I've got for dinner or lunch becuase it's usually so much nicer than theirs!

I can't remember the lat time I bought new clothes - the £15 pair of work trousers I bought in my first year of uni are still doing a grand job of making me look smart at work, and I'll probably wear them until they fall off!

I'm so hoping I'll get the job I'm going for on Friday. Not only because it's exactly what I want to do, but also because it's really well paid. It's private sector mental health nursing, so there's not as many benefits as in the NHS, but at the moment, I'm willing to take my chances, just to have that first paypacket!

T xx

I had a colleague in tears as they are doing up a house and renting one while doing so. Sat crying that they dont have any money left, haouse half built and carnt afford the rented one. Howver they have had 2 abroad holidays this year! Priorities all wrong me thinks!

I hope you get the job you have an interview for.

Just been complimented on my work outfit. Told them it was all from charity shops. "How do you do it" said the complimenter. Offered to show them the delights of the local chaz shops but no they only like stuff from Next and someone may have died in the clothes from a chaz shop,eh?

Is it dinner time yet?

parsonswife8

Good morning everyone

Many thanks for all the birthday wishes.:j And Happy Birthday Zip:T

Annie56, way to go girl!:beer: I am SO pleased for the two of you.:T

Well, I have been so spoilt already this morning with cards, emails, phone calls and prezzies and a lovely, romantic card from DH.:smileyhea

Will see my grand kids, son and DIL this evening. :kisses:Will only see daughter the weekend after this one.:(

(((Hugs))) to all who need them, I feel truly blessed today.:)